Question about Sushi Gen

The last two times I've tried to have lunch at Sushi Gen (422 E. 2nd St., (213) 617-0552), there's been a line out the door and as a result, I've had to go elsewhere. This despite the fact that I left my office at 11:30 and got there well before noon.

Is there a trick to avoiding the crowds when lunching at this place? And, in related vein, if you go to Sushi Gen and find it too crowded, where is your backup lunch spot in Little Tokyo. (I've been going across the street to Iza-yoi, which is okay, but doesn't really bowl me over.)

I would go either real early, begin waiting in line before 11:05 (they open at 11:15), or I would go very late, like 10 minutes before closing. If there's a wait by the time they close at 2, they usually start letting people sit at the sushi bar to order their lunch specials. The lines have been getting worst since they reduced the dining area (they took out the little room to expand their kitchen.)

A backup to Sushi Gen is going to Sushi Go 55. Though I still find sushi gen to be better.

i think it's pretty good too, especially if you want to straddle the super traditional with a little more ponzu sauce. be careful about that parking lot, though. more than 60 minutes and it's tow city.